Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dusty pink suerte&#39;

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’, characterized by its daisy-type inflorescences that are about 7.7 cm in diameter; attractive soft pink ray and bright yellow disc florets; very freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per stem; response time about 67 days; dark green foliage; strong stems; long peduncles; and good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for at least four weeks in an interior environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’.

[0002] The new Chrysanthemum was discovered by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca, Colombia in June, 1998,as a naturally-occurring mutation of the Chrysanthemum×morifoliumcultivar Suerte, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,225. The newChrysanthemum was observed as a single plant in a group of floweringplants of the parent cultivar. The selection of this plant was based onits different ray floret color.

[0003] Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminalcuttings taken in a controlled environment in Madrid, Cundinamarca,Colombia, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemumare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The cultivar Dusty Pink Suerte has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0005] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’.These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’ asa new and distinct cultivar:

[0006] 1. Large daisy-type inflorescences that are about 7.7 cm indiameter.

[0007] 2. Attractive soft pink-colored ray florets and brightyellow-colored disc florets.

[0008] 3. Very freely flowering with numerous inflorescences per stem.

[0009] 4. Response time is about 67 days.

[0010] 5. Dark green foliage.

[0011] 6. Strong and thick stems.

[0012] 7. Long peduncles.

[0013] 8. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaininggood substance and color for at least four weeks in an interiorenvironment.

[0014] Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of thecultivar Suerte primarily in ray floret color as plants of the cultivarSuerte have dark pink/purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0015] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overallappearance of the new Chrysanthemum, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum. The photograph on the first sheetcomprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DustyPink Suerte’ grown as a spray-type cut Chrysanthemum. The photograph onthe second sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of‘Dusty Pink Suerte’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Madrid, Cundinamarca,Colombia, under conditions which approximate commercial practice in asingle-layer polyethylene-covered greenhouse. Two-week old rootedcuttings were planted on Dec. 7, 1999 and received 14 long day/shortnights followed by short day/long nights until flowering. Plants weregrown as single-stem cut chrysanthemums. During the production time, thefollowing environmental conditions were measured: day temperatures, 19to 24° C.; night temperatures, 4 to 12° C.; and light levels, 3,000 to5,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesfor six to ten typical flowering stems.

[0017] Botanical Classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar DustyPink Suerte.

[0018] Commercial Classification: Daisy spray-type cut Chrysanthemum.

[0019] Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofChrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Suerte, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 10,225.

[0020] Propagation:

[0021]Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

[0022]Time to rooting.—About seven to ten days with soil temperatures of21° C.

[0023]Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

[0024] Plant Description:

[0025]Appearance.—Herbaceous daisy spray-type cut flower.

[0026]Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 101.6 cm.Diameter: About 7 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.

[0027]Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 10.4cm. Width: About 5.6 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Mostly truncate. Margin:Palmately lobed; sinuses mostly parallel, occasionally convergent ordivergent. Texture: Upper and lower surfaces pubescent. Veins prominenton lower surface. Color: Young foliage upper surface: Darker than 147A.Young foliage lower surface: Darker than 147B. Mature foliage uppersurface: Darker than 147A; venation, 147B. Mature foliage lower surface:Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B. Petiole: Length: About 2.1 cm.Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 147B.

[0028] Flowering Description:

[0029]Appearance.—Daisy spray-type inflorescence form with elongatedoblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals, arisingfrom leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on acapitulum.

[0030]Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to two weeks of long day/short night conditions after plantingfollowed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about67 days later.

[0031]Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment, floweringstems will maintain good color and substance for at least four weeks inan interior environment after one week of cool storage.

[0032]Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering with about 10inflorescences per flowering stem.

[0033]Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.7 cm. Depth (height): About2.9 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.9 cm. Diameter of receptacle: About 8mm.

[0034]Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 4.3 cm. Width:About 1.1 cm. Apex: Mamillate or emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:Entire. Texture: Smooth, satiny, glabrous; longitudinally ridged.Aspect: Initially concave becoming mostly flat with subsequentdevelopment. Aspect: Initially upright; when mature, about 60 to 65°from vertical. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 93arranged in about five rows. Color: When opening, upper surface:Initially, 65A to 65B, then close to 69A. When opening, lower surface:Close to 69A to 69B. Mature, upper surface: Close to 69A; fading to 69Bwith subsequent development. Mature, lower surface: Close to 69A to 69C.

[0035]Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, flared at apex. Length: About 8 mm.Width: Apex: About 2.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets perinflorescence: Numerous, typically about 134. Color: Immature: 144A.Mature: Apex: 9A. Mid-section: Close to 154A. Base: 155D.

[0036]Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Angled about 45° fromvertical. Length: First peduncle: About 15.6 cm. Fourth peduncle: About21.6 cm. Seventh peduncle: About 26.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture:Very fine pubescence. Color: 146A.

[0037]Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only.Anther color: 9A. Amount of pollen: Scarce to moderate. Color: 14A.Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.

[0038]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0039] Disease Resistance: Resistance to pathogens common toChrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under commercialconditions.

[0040] Temperature Tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum havedemonstrated good tolerance to night temperatures as low as 5° C. andday temperatures as high as 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Dusty Pink Suerte’, as illustrated and described.